Time is not now. Leaders mentioned are not current. I own not Hetalia.

Recently I've been inspired by all the hurt/comfort with injured Alfred. This was first on Flowers in the wind, but I've added more of a plot at the end.

Warnings/ Tags: Mentions of past torture.

He sipped his beer. His gaze was vacant as he stared through the window, not seeing the news blasting on the T.V. His thoughts were a million miles away, turned to a happier time.

Where are you, Al? The question haunted his thoughts, ever since he learned of his brother's disappearance. It was almost three years since that day. Barely a week had passed that a new president for Alfred had been inaugurated that he last heard from his brother. Matthew wonder if Alfred knew what was going to happened to him then.

His brother's words still echoed in his head. I don't like him, Mattie. Which was rare, generally his brother almost always loved his new bosses initially or at least liked them well enough. The bad ones were disappointments later.

The President then had refused to let Alfred come to the meetings, trying to send a human representative instead. Which was meant with universal refusal from all the other nations. It was Alfred or no one.

Even when they demanded his return, mainly himself, England, France and Germany being the most vocal about it -Prussia would have been to, but he wasn't supposed to be at meetings anyway- nothing happened.

Instead they were force to listen to a recording of every insult they had ever said to Alfred. (How they had manage to get a recording of that still baffled him. They now took measures to block bugs.) It was sobering. They had nothing really to say in response.

He said he was defending the nation.

They could do nothing after that or risk an international incident, except to try to contact Alfred in person. No luck. His home was empty. He wouldn't respond to phone calls or emails. But what concern him the most was the block Alfred had put on their bond. Even when his brother had willingly isolated himself, he had never blocked Matthew.

Sure the nation borders were still open and unguarded. However the gentle echo of Alfred across his senses was now a wall, and he could barely detect his brother. At least it wasn't gone.

Matthew wasn't the only one worried. Arthur had taken up knitting again. The whole commonwealth now had hand knitted sweaters with their first initial on them and little magic signs that were meant for protection. Hell, Arthur had even made one for all his siblings and France. Though he had gotten a peek at another sweater, one with a white A in the middle surround by thirteen stars on a blue background.

"It's funny." Arthur had spoken that winter day when he caught sight of Matthew in the room, his fingers carefully trailing over the finished sweater.

"We left you alone for years at a time when the two of you were little. Yet I'm worried sick about him and he has barely been gone for two years. It's not like an enemy is holding him. And there isn't any evidence that he's being hurt. But we can't get in touch with him. I can't help but feel…"

Arthur had trailed off staring at the fireplace. The flames were reflecting in his eyes, and then he had shivered at some thought. Turning back to his former colony, he continued.

"I don't like this Matthew."

Matthew had only nodded in return, unsettled since the beginning by the lack of contact. It was one of the nice things about the future, being able to keep in touch so easily. Most of the countries had grown closer as a result. Silence was concerning when they hadn't heard from someone for a month, nevertheless two years.

Ever since then, France and Arthur called constantly to check up on him, half concern that he might get taken away as well. Gilbert wouldn't stop visiting him either. Lars would even pop up on occasion, or invite him overseas. They weren't Alfred.

The television flashed to the news, bringing him out of his thoughts.

"The U.S. Senate have come to a decision about the trial against President Crowley for impeachment who was accused with bribery and high treason to the nation." The news report spoke as an image of the Senate was behind her. Matthew watched for a while, the highlights of the case, along with the list of charges and grievances.

He felt a little vindictive watching that man being taken down. He was glad that the court the previous year had voted against treating corporations as people and allowing them to donate unlimited funds. (Which was where the bribery was being taken place, since the man had allocated funds to himself.)

But there still was no word about his brother.

A knock resonated in his home. Placing his beer on the end table, he hesitantly approached the door. There was a woman in a plain cotton blouse and black slacks. She seemed familiar, like a face he had seen her on the TV. She wasn't one of his citizens though, he could tell that right off the bat.

"Hello?" Matthew hesitantly opened the door.

"Are you Matthew Williams?" She gave a tentative smile.

American. He nodded.

"Alfred F. Jones' twin brother?" She barely had to ask. The similarity was beyond noticeable.

"You have news of my brother?" Matthew stepped fully outside. His gaze was instantly on the silver van behind her. He could make out another figure in the back seat.

Alfred.

Before he was even aware of his action, he raced to the car and had the door open. His brother was there.

Matthew took in stock his brother's condition. Bandages peaked under a loose long sleeve shirt and a pair of blue cotton pants to match. His left arm was in a cast, so was his right leg. There was dark bruising on one cheek. However what held attention were the bandages that were wrapped loosely around his head.

A shaking hand traced the white material across his eyes, before gently cupping his brother's cheek. Their connection reaffirmed itself. The block instantly fell away.

"Al." Matthew whispered silently to himself as he leaned his forehead against his brother's. The echo of pain was felt across his whole body and a phantom throb that ran from his wrist down to his arm. Overall, however, was just the gentle quiet of sleep.

"Ah." There was a small cough behind him. It was the woman again. As he turned to face her, he interlaced his hand with his brother's.

"We thought he might heal better with family." Her eyes were warmth with kindness as she spoke.

"Perhaps we can discuss this inside." A man in black added in, who was sitting in the seat next to Alfred. Matthew had barely noticed him earlier though from his posture, he was obviously a bodyguard. But the man's face was soft when he gazed down at Alfred.

"I can get the wheel chair." She offered taking a step towards the back of the car.

"No. I'll carry him." Matthew reached in, gentle threading an arm underneath his legs and picked him up with his head resting against his chest. Alfred was light, far too light.

He merely nodded when the bodyguard opened the door for him.

They had settled into the living room. Matthew was on the couch, with his brother's head propped up on a pillow on his lap. Alfred was still sleeping, despite being moved around so much. His little white bear, Nanuq, had wondered over to curl up on a cushion by Matthew's feet. However one brown bleary eye was open, watching the strangers.

What's wrong with Al? What happened? A thousand questions swirled in his mind, as an awkward silence drifted between himself and his guest. The bodyguard had situated himself on the chair closest to the door, while his eyes shifted to constantly take in their surroundings. The woman was fiddling with a vanilla envelope, trying to summon up the courage for her words.

Matthew waited.

He was trying to keep the quietly rising fury of how hurt Al was down. It would do no good to lash out at these people who brought his brother to him. In an effort to calm himself, he gently ran one hand through brother's hair, carefully avoiding Nantucket. This was the longest he had ever seen Alfred's hair grown; it was waving out in a manner similar to his own and fell down passed his shoulders. Even Nantucket had started to curl in on itself. Though the shade was much duller then before.

"I- " She broke the silence, hesitant and eyeing Matthew with concern. "We took him to the hospital, when we first got him out. At that point in time, we didn't know who he was. It wasn't till hours later when some footage was being reviewed that some one identified him..." Her eyes were distant as she trailed off. "He was only admitted for a few days. I thought it was best, and the rest of us who know agreed, that he should stay here."

"Very few government figures would do this. Let Al stay with me." Matthew held his brother a little closer to himself."Most would just want to lock their nation in a secure hospital."

"He's had enough of being locked away." She reached over the gap between the chair and the couch to carefully brushed Alfred's hair out of face. Then she handed him the vanilla folder. "This is the medical report list and recommended care."

Matthew flipped through the papers. His eyes scanned over the words.

Malnutrition. Numerous cuts and lacerations all of the body. Third left rib fractured. A spiral break along the left arm. Left foot sprained. Bullet wound to the right leg and left pectorals. Larynx and vocal cords inflamed, might have difficulty speaking. Inflammation of the eyes, might be due to chemical damage.

"How long ago was he found?" The page crumbled in his hand. Breathe. Your brother is right here. He told himself. I can help him now. I can still hear him through the bond.

There wasn't much explanation for it, the bond that they shared. When they physically in the same area, they could speak telepathically through their bond. The thoughts had to be purposely projected and the range generally was similar to that of wifi in someone's house.

"Three or four days ago. From what we understand of personifications, he isn't healing the way he should be. The laceration on his arm hasn't stopped bleeding no matter what we do."

That sounded like a nation given wound.* But none of them had seen Alfred. Unless… Al had managed the cut himself. The other wounds however should be healing.

"We think that the organization might have been injecting him with something that somehow hinders his healing ability. But we can't be certain. Though blood work could have been done. None of us wanted to take more from him, nor possible compromise you." She continued on, politely ignoring how Matthew's hands shook ever so slightly.

"The organization-" There was an edge he couldn't hold back from his voice.

"Is being dismantle with a series of trials and convictions. But there might still be some remnants that we haven't caught yet. We have people on it." Her eyes gleamed with just satisfaction.

"I would be willing to send people in to assist-"

"That wouldn't be unnecessary. Just focus on helping your twin. He is safest here." She cut him off, while giving a pointed look to Alfred.

"We had originally considered that he should stay in the States. But-" She bit her lip at this. "The organization that help to hold him isn't dismantled yet. Though I've seen…" Shaking her head, she continued on. "It's what they would expect of us. They wouldn't consider the bond that personifications have. They don't quite see you as human. But they are the ones who are not."

"Are our identities compromised then?" This would not be good for the others. There was a ton of lock down protocols that would have to be followed if it were a terrorist group who were aware of them.

"And how did you find out where I was living anyway?" Most personifications tend to keep that a secret from anyone who wasn't one of them. But they could have found out from his government. He would understand if Alfred had told them, but...

"As far as we are aware, they don't know who the other personifications are. And Juan has family that lives in the area." She nodded at the body guard.

"I saw you at the grocery store when I was visiting." Juan gave a brief smile. "And I had some previous work with the service so I suspected who you were. I asked my sister if she knew where you might lived. She suspected it was down this road, but she doesn't know what you are."

"Oh." He nodded. He knew which town they were talking about. "Why didn't you contact me sooner? At least sent me a message?"

"It was a safety precaution. I didn't want it intercept. Especially if that group found out. I didn't want him to go back. They had targeted specifically Alfred for being what he is." Her eyes shimmered brighter then before.

"If it weren't for those two…" She trailed off, before glancing down at her current charge. If she could, she would have stayed. At least till he woken up, so that he knew he was safe. But she had business to finish, had to make sure it would be safe for him, so that he could return home.

"Juan has agreed to stay here." She directed the attention to the bodyguard.

"I'm staying with my sister." Juan answered with a shrug. "But I'll come to help get him settled in. I've had medical training, probably on the level of a nurse. I can help change his bandages and bring food if necessary. We saw to his wounds before bringing him over, but it's probably best to change them daily. I would basically come for an hour or two a day, until he is stable. If that is fine with you?"

The last was just a courtesy question. He could raise a fuss, but they might take Alfred away. As his government, they had that control over the injured personification. Matthew understood. He wasn't pleased that a stranger would be coming over, but knew the necessarily of it. He wouldn't let them take his brother away from him.

"Yes. Maybe the same time everyday? Around 1 in the afternoon?"

"Very well then. We can get a bed set up for him till then, and hook him up to the IV." Juan stood, dusting off his black suit, and then headed for the door. "I'll go to the car and get the supplies."

"He hasn't woken up?" Matthew glanced down at his brother, watching the steady rise and fall of his chest.

"The doctors put him under when they treated him. The bullet wound to the shoulder had needed immediate care." The woman answered, offering a reassuring smile. "Though he is breathing fine on his own, and his heart beat has been steady. He's just sleeping."

"I know where I've seen you before." Matthew nodded to himself suddenly, remembering her face now. "You are running for President aren't you? In the next year elections?"

"Yes. Even though I represent a third party. There's another fourth party running as well. It might be just enough…" She turned her head to the TV that was still had the news on, interviews from different people of the White house. "And people are so tired of the squabbles between two parties and nothing actually ever being accomplished but corruption."

Within moments, Juan returned pushing a mobile bed with IV. The three of them quickly set the bed up in the living room, but Matt could easily pushed it to his room if he wanted to. It was on the same floor. Juan had even brought baby monitors for his use.

Carefully moving his brother to the fresh made hospital bed, he pulled a quilted blanket over his twin.

"Oh one more thing." The official added while she pulled a thin black glasses case out of her pocket. "I don't think he'll be able to use them for awhile. But he might want to have them."

"We should be off." Juan glanced at his watch. "I have a bit of driving to do today."

"Yes, we have to sneak back across the border. We were trying to be as unnoticeable as possible." She gave Matthew a slight grin at that. "The folder has my contact information, and Juan knows how to get a hold of me if anything happens."

Matthew gave a light wave from the door as they left, before locking it. He then sat with Nanuq by Alfred's side, both hands gently clasping one of his brother's. Letting the gentle warmth of it soak in, while he watched the steady rise and fall of Al's chest, unable to believe it.

His twin was here.

*The idea of nation wounds is from Lost Hype's These Gates on deviant art, which is really excellent and I would recommend it.

I also let me know how I did on medical details or if you have any suggestions. Please let me know what you think. Thank you.

AN: I've decided to make this a real story. So hopefully it goes well. Let me know what you think.

I also added a slight reference to Supernatural.